The School of Print Media requires their students to complete two semesters (20 weeks) of co-ops to further their education and career. Students are given the chance to work almost anywhere and with any company, but very few experience working on a cruise ship. Our school yearly recruits a few students to work aboard the world famous Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth 2. James Wegner, James Kase and, soon to deport, Crystal Pavlak were able to enjoy this experience and travel the world while pursing their career.

James Kase (4th year New Media Publishing) has cruised the seas, and soon to return, as the Assistant Printer aboard Queen Elizabeth 2, The Most Famous Ocean Liner in the World. Crystal (Graphic Media Student) will soon being on The Queen Elizabeth as well, come fall quarter 2008. James Wegner (3rd year New Media Publishing) is also on the seas as the Chief Printer on the Queen Victoria.

As a freshman I was intrigued by this opportunity and wanted to really see what all it entailed. I personally hope to travel one day and see the world, and I knew this co-op provided that chance. As for Crystal, Wegner and Kase they also shared this desire. Wegner commented, “One of the reasons why I chose to come to RIT was for this co-op. The main attraction for me was not just seeing the world, but also knowing I would be learning priceless life lessons, along with obviously gaining hands on experience in the print field.” Kase added, “It gave me a feeling of accomplishment, knowing that I printed something that would be used the same, or next day.”

The process begins in fall quarter every year. You fill out an application and sign up for an interview. The interview is usually ran by a few staff faculty along with current and/or former Chief Printers for Cunard. They make their decision and hire the best candidates. I asked Crystal how to prepare, and what to expect from the interview, “I think the main thing they are looking for are mature people, with a strong work ethic. The passengers on the ship pay a huge portion of money to be there, and they want to have people working that can handle themselves well. You also have to work everyday under deadlines, so if you don’t work hard, you probably won’t do well.”

As the associate or chief printer, the hours are long and you have complete control and responsibility over the printers. Both Wegner and Kase found these aspects one of their favorite characteristics of the job: “I love the fact that I know that I am in complete control. Not too many places in this world would place this amount of responsibility into such a young persons hands,” Wegner stated. But with work, comes play and not to mention you are aboard a gigantic cruise liner: “You may work 10-12 hours a day. Even though I worked so much, it didn’t seem like it because I was having just as much fun” (Kase). Spending six months on the ship allowed Kase and Wegner to develop many long lasting relationships. Kase spoke out commenting on this aspect, “My other favorite part of the job is the people that you meet. You learn a lot about a people by the way they are instead of the place where they are from. I try to stay in touch with them as often as I can.”

I was curious to find out where both Kase and Wegner have traveled, to me this was one of the most interesting aspects of the co-op. Wegner is currently on the World Cruise and has been to ports in the US, Caribbean, Mexico, Costa Rica, South Pacific, New Zealand, Australia, South Asia, and will be heading back to Europe shortly. Kase has visited Egypt, England, Iceland, Norway, France, Belgium, Croatia, Spain, Italy, Turkey,and Canada.

Both commented that this experience has taught them more about their selves: “I’ve learned that there is more to the world than Long Island and upstate New York. Getting to know people from other countries is a lot of fun and you learn a lot” (Kase). Wegner added, “Just being away from everything and everyone that you know for 7 months can do that to a person.” Along with creating their own self-identity, both gained valuable time management skills and independent thinking. Kase confirmed, “I learned that you have to schedule your fun around your work. There is time for everything; you just need to make time for it. This also attributed to my work ethic. I work until everything is done, so I can relax as much as possible. The sooner you get the work done, the more time you have to plan what you want to do at the next port.”

“Don’t think twice about it. I think that no matter who you are or where you come from, you stand to gain a lot from this (Wegner). This isn’t one of your usual co-ops. The work you do is seen and used the next day. You do make a difference and make an impact on the place where you work. It’s a lot of hard work at times, but it is definitely worth it for the memories and experience you get from it (Kase).”

To conclude, I think James Wegner sums up the opportunity the best—“This is the experience of a lifetime, and a story that very few are able to tell.”

Get your resumes ready and start practicing those interview questions—the spring career fair is approaching.

The career fair is a great place to talk with recruiters about current and future co-op and full-time positions. You’ll be able to learn more about companies, what they do and where you might fit in. You may even be able to set up a future interview. Start your professional networking and gain some valuable contacts for future jobs.

Make sure you come prepared for the fair. Research the companies before attending and try to decide whom you would like to talk to. Even complete job applications posted on company websites. Always update your resume and make sure to bring multiple copies to the career fair. And don’t forget to wear professional attire. The Cooperative Education and Career Services Office offers workshops to help you prepare for this event. Visit the career fair site to view all the different opportunities.

Many companies hoping to employ print and new media students are attending, including:

• Canon USA
• Fisher-Price
• The IRS
• IBM
• RR Donnelly
• Walgreens 
• and many more. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to see what is out there for you!

For most college students, summer consists of taking a break from the hussle-and-bussle of the academic year. From catching up on sleep to having some home-cooked meals, students usually spend a majority of their time relaxing and hanging out with their friends.

RIT students, however, have a different agenda for those three months outside of Rochester. During those three summer months, most RIT students take a proactive step towards their future by engaging in a cooperative education experience.

The School of Print Media requires that all of its students complete a total of six months in such a position. Cooperative Education (or Co-op) is the hallmark of an RIT education and provides an opportunity to put classroom lectures, textbook theories and your personal initiative to the ultimate test—performance on the job.

SPM et cetera contacted three students who spent this past summer working at their respective coops to get their take on their experiences. From newspapers to packaging, we’ve sampled a variety of jobs for our readers. Finally, if you haven’t yet… start thinking about those coops!